Hiking Fuerte Caprón in Guanica State Forest
Found at the end of one of the most hiked trails in the
Guánica Dry Forest, Fuerte (Fort) Caprón offers a sweeping vista of the
Caribbean Sea, the village of Guánica below, and the mountains surrounding
gleaming Guánica Bay.
This pretty fort was built in the 16th century by the
Spanish, and later used by U.S. troops after the Spanish-American war. It has a
chamber tucked underneath that offers shade and the opportunity to examine
decades worth of colorful graffiti.
We hiked to the fort, walked the trail that encircles it,
then continued up the trailhead for a 5.7-mile hike. It’s a steady uphill hike
on the way out, without much shade and no facilities. Bring lots of water (we
suggest freezing a couple of bottles in advance) and lunch or a snack, and wear
sunscreen and a hat!
You are rewarded on the descent with spectacular views in the last mile.
The hike is one of many in the Guánica State Forest, also
known as El Bosque Seco de Guánica, a United Nations International Biosphere
Reserve. It’s one of the most extensive tropical dry coastal forests in the
world, totaling around 9,000 acres.
LINKS:
Map to trailhead: https://goo.gl/maps/UtWda2dCrfvkrRM77
Discover Puerto Rico: https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/profile/fuerte-capron/8380
Guánica Dry Forest: https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/visit-guanicas-dry-forest
All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/puerto-rico/west-region/fuerte-trail
Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/qcHbG8qbkRNFPGEs6
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